#top Tattoo Artist

[officialmiintee]

that time where i put my current fixation in my recent fits

[katieaki]

Promises Fulfilled ✨

December 2022 digital

Girl Best Friends

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[claypigeonpottery]

sold

I really enjoy this boy's tattoos. and his round tummy. and his contented face.

he's just enjoying the sunshine

[steddieas-shegoes]

Chapter 3

of  this post /  Chapter 2 / read it all on ao3 Here

Steve was warm.

He was also naked in a bath that belonged to Eddie.

It was a nice bath, much larger than the one he and Robin rarely used, and full of bubbles that smelled like peppermint.

Eddie told him it would help keep him awake, but also help him stay relaxed.

He was right.

He was also currently making Steve a grilled cheese (his favorite) and letting him listen to music through his phone speaker (his relaxing playlist that he used for his paperwork hours at home). He’d made sure the bath was hot, but not scalding the way Steve usually had it. He didn’t leave the room until Steve was laying in the bath, head resting against the towel Eddie set up along the edge, eyes closed to keep his senses dulled. According to Eddie, that was really important.

He’d lit a few candles and kept them on the side of the sink, then shut off the light before leaving to make Steve’s sandwich.

Steve was still completely unable to speak.

That was more than a little unnerving.

He knew what he needed and wanted to say, but nothing came out.

But he trusted Eddie for some reason. He’d unpack that later.

Maybe.

Probably not.

For a guidance counselor, he wasn’t that great at giving himself guidance. Or counseling.

“Stevie?”

“Hm?”

Hey! Progress! He made a noise!

“Got your sandwich,” Eddie held up the plate and smiled at Steve, who had opened his eyes, but hadn’t bothered to lift his head from where it rested against the back of the tub. He was too comfy. “You wanna dry your hands so you can eat?”

He wanted to eat, but he certainly didn’t want to move. His hands were so warm in the water. If he took them out of the bath they’d be cold and probably pruned, which was not attractive.

Not that it mattered if he was attractive, but he didn’t want Eddie to have anything else to add to the list he’d titled ‘Why Steve Harrington Is Not A Catch.’

“Sunshine, you have to eat something.”

Steve sighed. He blinked at Eddie in hopes that he would understand what he was trying to say.

Eddie sat down on the floor next to the tub and lifted the sandwich up to Steve’s mouth.

That wasn’t what Steve was trying to say, but he couldn’t really argue since he was still apparently nonverbal.

Eddie had briefly explained that that happened a lot during subspace, and sometimes it happened during a drop.

Steve took a bite of the sandwich and groaned.

It was good.

Or maybe he was just really hungry.

Either way, he leaned in to take another bite before he’d even finished chewing the first. He didn’t even care if it was disgusting or rude, he just needed to eat.

“Good boy. But don’t eat too fast, sunshine. Don’t want you to feel sick.”

“Mhm.”

Steve relaxed again, letting Eddie hold the sandwich up to his mouth to take a bite every minute or so.

It was nice. Too nice.

Steve had never been taken care of like this. Even when he was with Nancy, she would usually leave him alone when he was sick or tired, not wanting to expend the energy it takes to get him through an illness or exhaustion.

He was a little needy sometimes. He covered it up well after Nancy, not wanting anyone, not even Robin, to know he sometimes needed someone to care for him.

He hadn’t even noticed he drifted off again until Eddie was running his fingers through his barely wet hair.

“C’mon sunshine. Water’s getting too cold. Gotta get you in bed.”

And then he was in what he assumed was Eddie’s bed in what he assumed were Eddie’s clothes in what he assumed was big trouble.

He let himself feel safe.

He hadn’t felt safe in a long time.

– – – – – – – – – –

When he woke up, he was alone.

He was used to being alone.

In fact, a part of his brain told himself he would have been more worried if he wasn’t alone.

But he wasn’t in his bed, which meant at some point very recently he wasn’t alone.

And then it all came rushing back to him.

This was Eddie’s bed. Eddie, the tattoo artist he barely knew, who helped him through whatever the fuck he went through yesterday.

He turned onto his side and nearly fell out of bed when he saw that he wasn’t alone. Eddie was asleep, body curled up facing Steve, but keeping some distance between them. His breathing was slow and quiet, and his body looked relaxed despite the uncomfortable looking position he was in.

Steve watched as Eddie slept, thinking through the events of the night before.

Eddie had known what to do, what he needed, and how to make sure he got it even when he couldn’t speak. He hadn’t taken advantage of him, even though it would have been easy to do with Steve so out of it.

Eddie let out a snore and Steve couldn’t help the endeared smile that crossed his face.

Nope, you stop that right the fuck now, Steven Harrington.

He was about to slap himself in the face to prevent himself from actually having feelings when Eddie’s eyes shot open.

They stared at each other for a moment, and then Eddie smiled, and Steve was definitely in trouble.

“Hey, sunshine.”

“Um. Hi.”

“Feeling better?”

“Yeah. I’ll be out of your hair as soon as I can get dressed.”

Steve started to sit up, but Eddie reached his hand out to stop him.

“No rush. Seriously, take your time. I don’t have to be at the shop until 12 today.”

Which reminded Steve that it was Sunday, he had nowhere to be, and he was currently very cozy. Maybe he could stay for a little while. Just until he was more awake.

“I don’t wanna take up more of your time. You’ve done enough I think.”

“It’s fine, Steve.” Steve felt himself make a face at the name and Eddie’s brows furrowed. “What?”

“I dunno. Just used to you saying Stevie or Sunshine.”

Eddie smirked at him and Steve felt his stomach drop. Where it dropped to, he didn’t know, and he didn’t think he would ever find it again with the way he felt completely hollowed out.

“It’s just as much for me as it is for you, Stevie. That was pretty intense last night.”

His tone was serious, but he kept a soft smile on his face, probably to make sure Steve didn’t run away without talking about some of it.

“Yeah. I’m sorry about everything. I really wouldn’t have even gotten a tattoo if I thought that would happen.”

“Nothing to apologize for. You can’t control it. How would you have known it would happen?” Eddie raised one brow as if to dare Steve to argue. “Exactly. You didn’t know. I’m glad I was around to help. Hate to think what could’ve happened if it was someone else.”

And, yeah, Steve was worried about that now too. Eddie seemed to know a lot about this, so Steve took this opportunity to ask some questions. He certainly couldn’t ask Robin.

It was a long conversation, and Eddie never talked to him like he was stupid. He was patient and kind, and was honest if he didn’t know the answer to something. He occasionally reached out to brush some of Steve’s hair out of his face or squeeze his hand if he seemed like he couldn’t figure out how to phrase something, bringing him back to the present and keeping his thoughts in order.

They went over how he could prepare for it next time, but Steve said he probably wouldn’t be getting another tattoo anytime soon.

Eddie said he would prefer that he come to him if he did or at least have someone who could help him through it if he went somewhere else.

“So, before the drop…” Steve stopped. He didn’t know what he wanted to say. Well, he did, but he didn’t know if actually wanted to say it out loud.

Eddie looked at him expectantly, an encouraging smile pointed at Steve in a way he couldn’t resist.

“Before the drop. I really felt…good. Like I was untouchable and nothing bad could happen. Is that always like that? The subspace thing?”

“I’ve never experienced subspace. I mean, I’ve tried a couple times when I first started messing around with people, but it just didn’t happen for me. But I’ve been with plenty of subs when they’re floating and they describe it like that, yeah. Like you can feel everything and nothing at once, but everything is good. It’s a high you can’t even get from drugs. Which is why the crash from it can be so fucking awful.”

It still didn’t make sense how Steve got to this point, how he had ever reached that high from needles pressing into his skin and Eddie being nice to him, and how he’d fallen so far so fast.

But what Eddie said was exactly how he’d felt the night before. He wasn’t really able to put it into words like Eddie had.

“So will I always drop if I end up there again?”

“Not if you’re with the right person and you can figure out limits and what causes it for you. Everyone is different. For you, it seems like pain might do it, but you would have to be in the right mindset to get there no matter what.”

“I wasn’t really in any type of mindset last night.”

“Maybe it didn’t seem like it. But it’s hard to really know when you weren’t expecting it.”

Steve bit his lip. How could he have not known? How did he make it to 27 years old not having a clue?

“Hey.” Eddie’s thumb rubbed against his bottom lip, pulling it away from his teeth. “You didn’t know. It’s normal for a lot of people to never know. If you weren’t into the scene before, how would you know? But now you do. And now you just have to be careful in the future. I don’t want anyone to hurt you.”

Steve was gonna die right here in Eddie’s bed. Who the fuck just says shit like that? His heart skipped a beat like in those stupid romance books Nancy used to read.

How dumb.

“Is pouting your natural state?”

Steve pouted harder, bottom lip pushing out as far as he possibly could just to be ridiculous.

It was worth being and feeling ridiculous to hear Eddie’s laugh.

“Listen, I know I just threw a lot at you and you may have more questions. You’ve got my number on that tattoo care sheet, so make sure you call me or text me if you have any questions, okay? And if you want another tattoo and don’t feel comfortable going somewhere else, I’m happy to do it all over again, hopefully without the drop this time.”

“What if I wanted to float again? Without the tattoo.”

Steve should shut his mouth. He really should shut his fucking mouth.

Eddie searched his face, much like he did the night before. What the hell was he looking for?

He glanced behind Steve for a moment and then back at him.

“I’ve gotta get up and get ready. But we have to have a really big talk before I can agree to that.” Steve felt his own face fall, but Eddie quickly continued. “Not because I don’t want to, sunshine. I think you’re at the part of the post-high feeling where you wanna reach it again right away. That can be really bad for you and for me, okay? But I’m done at 7 tonight. You busy?”

Steve was never busy on the weekends unless Robin was dragging him to a club and he’d be damned if he tried to go to a club instead of being with Eddie.

Which is another thing he probably should start unpacking very soon.

“No. I have work at 7:30 in the morning though.”

“Ah, right. Guidance counselor.” Eddie smirked. “Nothing’s gonna happen tonight except talking. You could also…bring stuff to spend the night here if you want.”

Eddie seemed incredibly nervous to even suggest it, and maybe if it was anyone else, Steve would’ve laughed and ran out the door, never to look back at the batshit insane person trying to have him spend the night within 24 hours of knowing him.

But Steve thought about how well he slept in Eddie’s bed with Eddie last night, and he thought about how his bed was pretty lonely, and how maybe waking up here again would make him feel better about having to exist on Monday.

“Yeah. I could do that.”

Eddie’s answering smile was nothing short of blinding.

“Great! Okay. Let’s head on back to the shop so you can get your car. Is Robin home?”

“Probably. She’s probably waiting to see my name on the news with the headline “Dead Body of Idiot Man Trying To Get First Tattoo Found” and a picture of me from the yearbook.”

Eddie let out a loud laugh.

It was nice.

Usually, Steve got annoyed when people laughed so loudly, but Eddie’s was nice.

Eddie was nice.

“So. 7?”

“Yeah, sunshine.”

— — — — — — — — — —

Eddie didn’t let Steve stray far while they got ready to leave.

Steve would never admit how much he loved it.

During the drive back to the shop, Eddie played music Steve had never heard, and probably never would have if not for him. He didn’t exactly like it, but he didn’t mind it, especially when he watched Eddie sing along with a passion Steve hadn’t really ever felt.

They didn’t need to talk and Steve didn’t feel pressured to try.

He hadn’t felt so comfortable around someone since he first met Robin, and he was holding onto the panic he knew was coming when he was alone.

He was still feeling tired. His emotions had been on a hell of a journey over the last 18 hours, and Eddie had already warned him he probably would be feeling the effects of it all for another day or so.

But Eddie also explained that without the drop, it’s worth it.

He wanted to know what that felt like.

And he wanted to know what it felt like with Eddie.

So when they arrived at the shop and said goodbye, Eddie hugged him tightly, holding him against his chest. Steve wasn’t much shorter than him, but he managed to fold himself into him without being uncomfortable, resting his face against his collarbone and breathing in the scent he was already addicted to.

They separated, but neither seemed ready or willing to.

Did Eddie feel this pull the way Steve did? Was Steve just attaching himself to someone who helped him through his most vulnerable time?

As he walked away, he looked over his shoulder to find Eddie staring after him, keeping eyes on him as he walked to his car. He was frowning.

Maybe he did feel as much as Steve. 

Chapter 4

TAG LIST:  @invisibleflame812 @inmoonywetrust @captain-daryn @carlyv @lillemilly @spectrum-spectre @raisedbylibrarians @estrellami-1 @gregre369 @mightbeasleep @imhereforthelolzdontyellatme @bornonthesavage @loguine-linguine

[seeminglydark]

All this talk about angels made me want to figure draw a little bit as a cool down

[nicknizzard]

I‘ve never used Tumblr before but I‘ve heard the people here enjoy art a lot more than on other platforms….So here‘s some Stardew Valley Sebastian fanart I finished a few days ago. Hope you enjoy!!

[fandomwonderer]

Here’s my Pearl and Marina redesigns!

[fantasticalleigh]

i hate manspreading but if this man sat beside me on a packed bus and spread out like that i would fold myself into a ball and let him use me as an armrest you feel me?

also idk the context for the bottom drew + what he's saying it's either ominous and he's saying it to punk after he captures him (??) it could also look be a happy ending thing for when they eventually confess their love for each other and depart into a glorious sunset i love being vague!!!!!

[fickes]

something something partaking in the divine act of creation

[aradidnt]

at least as deep as the Pacific Ocean,

now I wanna be yours

[mitamicah]

Not me brainstorming ideas for my post op tattoo (context) like I'd contact the tattoo artist tomorrow and not in a 1,5 year or more

This was where my inspiration took me today I guess :'D

[knifebaby3000]

“sugar 2” + “sugar 3”, 16 april 23

[steddieas-shegoes]

Chapter 7

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 

Steve’s morning was full of light.

Eddie was brighter than the sunbeams shining through the curtains in his bedroom, and Steve was never happier to be blinded by light.

Steve wasn’t woken by his alarm. Instead, he was woken by soft kisses against his neck and jaw, breathy whispers he couldn’t quite understand making him shiver under the sheets.

It was more than Steve had ever had, more than he ever expected, and more than he thought he deserved. But he smiled into it. He let himself bask in Eddie’s light.

------------------------------------

Eddie had a full day of clients, and Steve ended up in more parent conferences than he planned as new schedules for the next semester got released.

He barely even had a lunch break, and most of it was spent texting Robin about their plans after work.

He didn’t purposely avoid looking at the text from Eddie sitting there unread, but he knew if he opened it, he would yearn to be back with him too much.

The space would be good for him to clear his head a little, separate himself from the intensity of his emotions that Eddie brought on. Take himself out of the shock of feeling so much at once and find the level headedness he was used to having.

He tried not to think about how Eddie didn’t give him any rules before he left this morning.

------------------------------------

Steve was not having a good afternoon.

His last conference of the day left his head spinning. The principal had to sit in towards the end as the parents became more irate at the fact that their son was failing almost every class and Steve couldn’t be bribed to change his grades in the system.

This was the worst part of the job.

Everything was loud.

He didn’t know how to make it quiet.

He left work with a ringing in his ear and a tension in his neck and shoulders that hadn’t been present for days and wondering how he’d be able to face the conversation ahead of him.

------------------------------------

The door opened and Steve nearly fell off the couch.

He must have fallen asleep when he decided to rest for a few minutes when he got home.

“You good?” Robin asked from above him. She had an amused smirk on her face, but he could see the concern in her eyes.

“Yep. Just didn’t realize it was time for you to be home.”

Steve stood up and shook his arms out to wake himself up, something he’d done since he was young to get the blood pumping.

“I’m guessing you haven’t seen my text about dinner, then?”

“No, why?”

Steve reached into his pocket for his phone as Robin sat down.

“Pizza place had a fire, so we need a backup. Any ideas?”

Steve felt his heart stop when he saw a missed call from Eddie. Shit, he really was out of it.

“Uh. I’m good with anything.”

He could feel Robin staring at him, but he was still trying to get all synapses firing in his brain and couldn’t quite look away from his phone.

“So you’d be good with tofu and sushi?”

Steve’s head snapped up, lip curling in disgust.

“What? Since when would I be okay with that? I hate tofu and sushi.”

“Just checking to see if you were actually paying attention or if you’d been body snatched.”

Steve rolled his eyes, but put his phone back in his pocket for the moment. Tonight was about Robin, and Eddie could wait.

“Burgers?” Steve suggested, knowing Robin was always down for burgers.

“Burgers sound good. My usual please?”

“Got it.”

Robin started to walk towards the bathroom, but turned before she made it to the door.

“Text Eddie that you’re okay. He was worried.”

Steve felt his mouth open in shock.

“He texted you?”

“He called me. Said he hadn’t heard from you at lunch and he was supposed to.”

Oh, so the rule was still there.

“Oh. Okay.”

Robin shook her head and mumbled to herself as she walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. It sounded an awful lot like “idiots, both idiots” but Steve wasn’t sure.

He called in their order for burgers first, knowing that the dinner rush, even on a Tuesday, would have at least an hour wait for delivery.

He pulled up his texts and saw two from Eddie: the one from this morning he didn’t have time to respond to and one from right after he tried calling.

Don’t forget to be a good boy and text me at lunch, sunshine.

Please let me know you’re doing okay, Stevie. Just a quick text is fine. I know you’re gonna be with Robin tonight, but I wanna make sure you haven’t dropped. Please.

Shit. Dammit.

He immediately started typing a response, worried that Eddie was dropping. Could he drop? Surely he would have told Steve if that was a possibility. Right?

I’m okay. I’m sorry. It’s been a busy day and I didn’t know you wanted me to stick to the rules still. Are you okay?

His leg was bouncing as he waited for Eddie to reply, getting faster when he saw the typing bubbles appear.

I’m better now. We can talk later when you’re done hanging out with Robin, okay?

Are you mad?

No, was just worried. Have fun with Robin.

It felt like a dismissal, and he knew that Eddie didn’t mean it unkindly, but his head started to spin with the idea that maybe that was the final straw for him.

Before he could spiral, Robin came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head and her comfiest pajamas on. She took one look at him and sighed.

“Let’s talk while we wait for food.”

They both sat on the couch, Robin’s feet finding their way into Steve’s lap, his hands resting on her ankles.

“So. Let me start by saying sorry again. I’m not sorry for being worried, but I am sorry for how I spoke to you. I should have waited to talk in person and I shouldn’t have made you feel like you don’t know how to handle yourself or that you’re a bother.”

Oh God, her voice was shaking. Was she gonna cry? She never cried.

“Robs, it’s okay. I get it. I’m glad I have you to worry about me, okay?” He squeezed her ankle and she sniffled. “I wish it didn’t happen that way, but it does show we have to talk about this. I think I need to unpack a bit with you actually.”

“You, Steve Harrington, need to unpack your feelings?” She reached out to check his temperature. “Are you sure you haven’t been body snatched?”

“I’m sure. There’s just a lot to catch you up on.”

He spent the next 30 minutes breaking down everything that happened from the moment he walked into Eddie’s tattoo shop on Saturday to the text exchange that happened right before Robin came out of the shower.

“Well, you’ve certainly found your way into something interesting.”

Steve groaned and threw his head back to rest against the back of the couch.

“It doesn’t make any fucking sense what I’m about to say and I need you to just let me say it out loud so I can recognize how fucking stupid it is.”

“Okay.”

“I think I love him.”

Robin didn’t react, but Steve knew she wanted to. She was being the best friend ever and letting him sit with it out in the open like that on his own first.

“I’m waiting for my brain to say that I didn’t mean that.”

“Okay.”

They both sat in silence for a minute, two.

“Fuck, I love him.”

“Steve, this is. I mean I’m not a professional at these types of relationships, but could it just be the whole subspace thing?”

“I mean, yeah? I guess? But it just doesn’t feel that way. The way he makes me feel all the time, not just when he’s making me float, it’s better than anyone’s ever made me feel. I can’t explain it and I’m gonna sound crazy if I try.”

“Try anyways.”

Steve sighed. Robin wouldn’t end this conversation without understanding him, so he had no choice.

“It’s just. I feel safe. Even before the tattoo started, I felt safe. Something about the way he just is. He calls me sunshine, but he’s the one burning bright. It’s like we don’t have to know everything about each other to know each other. God, this sounds stupid.” He covered his face with his hands and was shocked to find that he was crying. “It’s more than just wanting to be with him, it’s like I know I can be myself, my best self, if he’s around. Like I can let go of everything I’ve spent most of my life trying to be and just. Be.”

Robin’s eyes were wide as she took in Steve’s demeanor. He was serious, and he was crying.

“Listen to me, Steve.” Steve looked back at her as he wiped the tears from his eyes. “How you feel is how you feel. Do I think it’s a little crazy? Yeah. But I’ve never seen you like this, and you’ve had plenty of opportunities to. You weren’t even like this with Nancy and you wanted to spend the rest of your life with her.”

“I don’t think I loved Nancy like this.”

“Holy shit.”

“Yeah. Holy shit.”

They both sat in silence again, both taking in what was said, both realizing that Steve was in deep.

“Alright! Here’s what we do!”

Robin was cut off by her phone ringing, which was odd.

There was a knock at the door at the same time.

“I’ll get the door, you get your phone.”

Steve got up to grab their food as Robin answered her phone.

He was so focused on making sure the delivery person got a good tip, he didn’t hear what Robin was saying.

“Robs! Hurry before it gets cold!” Steve yelled as if she’d left the room, but she was sitting on the couch whispering into the phone.

“Robs? Everything okay?” He asked as he walked back over to the couch to make sure she was okay.

“Okay, I’ll tell him. I will! I’ll text you. Okay. Bye.”

When Robin hung up, Steve had a sinking feeling in his stomach that he couldn’t explain. Something was wrong.

“Sit.”

Steve sat.

“Look at me.”

Steve looked at her.

“This is not your fault, you understand?”

“Uh. Okay.”

“I need you to say it.”

“It’s not my fault.” Steve breathed in. “What’s not my fault?”

“That was Chrissy. You know Eddie’s friend? She’s the Chrissy I work with. Small world or whatever.” Robin was gonna start rambling. Oh god. “So she’s at Eddie’s. Apparently he had to reschedule his last client tonight and when she showed up at his house, he was a mess. Mid-panic attack and didn’t even know she came in the house. She got him to calm down enough to drink some tea on the couch, but all he’s said is he fucked up with you. Any clue what he’s talking about?”

Steve felt his stomach turn. Eddie fucked up? What could he have done?

“I don’t know. Everything was fine. He seemed a little off during the texts, but he said we’d talk later.”

“Off how?”

“I dunno! Just really formal and short? Not like he usually is.”

“Chrissy thinks he’s going through a dom drop.”

Fuck. That’s what Steve feared, but he didn’t know for sure if it was even possible.

He should’ve called him when he seemed off. No, he should’ve texted him at lunch. He could’ve taken ten seconds to send a quick message.

But he didn’t think about the rule. The one rule Eddie had given. Maybe they hadn’t discussed it being a standing rule, but Steve should’ve assumed he’d like a check in after what they did last night.

“Robs, I…”

“You gotta go. It’s okay. I’m pretty tired anyways. But Steve?”

“Hm?”

“You’re allowed to love him. Things may end badly, or you may be in deeper than he is, or there may come a point where this wears off for you. But for now, if you love him, then love him with all you’ve got.”

Steve nodded, giving her a quick hug before he threw his shoes on and left.

Eddie needed him and he was going to love him through it.

------------------------------------

When he arrived at Eddie’s house, he saw that all except one light was off, and the door was unlocked.

Robin must’ve called Chrissy to let her know he was coming.

When he walked inside, the house felt cold.

This wasn’t the same house that made him feel warm, content, happy.

He saw Chrissy first, sitting on the couch next to a blanket burrito which could only contain Eddie.

Whatever nerves he’d been feeling on the drive over disappeared when he heard what Chrissy was saying.

“He’s on his way and you’ll see that he’s okay. Robin said he just had a really busy day, remember?”

“But he didn’t follow the rule.”

“Babes, he probably didn’t think he had to. You said he’s new at this, right? If you didn’t remind him, then he probably just was busy.”

“I was.”

Steve spoke and the air changed. It didn’t stop being cold, but there was a new pressure to it, and he knew that Eddie heard him.

“Thank god,” Chrissy said as she stood up. “I’m clocking out. This guy needs you. You know what to do?”

“Um. I googled. I think I can handle it.”

“Call if you need me. I’ve gotten him through one before so I know what works if you can’t handle it,” she gave him a tired smile. “Chrissy, by the way.”

“Steve.”

“Eddie, Steve’s got you now, okay? But call if you need me.”

“Okay.”

His voice was raspy, not at all the usual strong, upbeat tone he had.

As Chrissy left the house, Steve walked over to the couch. Eddie had removed the blanket from around him, but was still curled in on himself in a way Steve didn’t think was possible. Not for Eddie.

“Eds? Can I sit with you?”

Eddie nodded, but otherwise didn’t move. Steve sat where Chrissy previously was, quickly resting his hand on Eddie’s back.

Eddie seemed to relax a bit at the touch, a small sigh released from his mouth.

“Wanna tell me what’s going on in your head, babe?”

Eddie shook his head.

“That’s okay. I can just keep you company. Do you need anything?”

Eddie shook his head again.

“Do you want to cuddle?”

Eddie nodded, but seemed to hesitate for a moment.

“What is it?”

This was hard. He didn’t know how Eddie handled him when he was pretty much nonverbal.

“Can you lay in my lap?”

How would anyone say no to that?

“I’d love to.”

Eddie slowly unfurled from the nearly perfect spiral he’d been curled into, resting his feet on the floor and stretching his back out. He groaned when something popped, but it seemed to help him relax a little more.

Steve slowly lay down across the couch, placing his head in Eddie’s lap so he was looking up at his face.

Eddie’s hand found his cheek like a magnet, rubbing his thumb along his jaw while he looked down at him like he was a miracle.

No one had ever looked at Steve like that.

It was a lot to cope with.

He stayed still, letting Eddie touch and look, some part of him knowing that he needed this and that it would help. Eddie’s hand glided over his exposed skin for long minutes, tracing along his freckles on his neck and collarbone, his arms, even the tattoo he inked into his skin only a few days ago.

So much has changed since then.

Eddie let out a small whine, and Steve reached one hand out to hold his, squeezing as a reminder that he was here and he wasn’t going anywhere.

“Right here, Eds. You with me?”

“Yeah.”

“What do you need, love?”

“Shirt off. Skin.”

Steve could do that. He could do whatever Eddie needed.

He started to sit up to take his shirt off when he felt a hand on his chest and Eddie whined again, looking down at Steve with hurt on his face.

“I have to move a little to take off my shirt. It’s only for a few seconds.”

“Please.”

He wasn’t sure what he was asking for, but Steve slowly sat up and turned to straddle Eddie’s lap. Eddie seemed okay with this movement, so Steve continued by removing his shirt quickly.

Eddie’s hands were on his bare hips before he even had the shirt off of his head. He couldn’t help the smile he gave when he felt Eddie relax a bit more into the couch.

He was taking care of Eddie and getting him through this one step at a time with barely any idea what he was doing. It felt good to know what he needed. Is this how Eddie felt with him all the time?

“Closer.”

Steve didn’t need to be told twice; He leaned in so he could let his face fall against Eddie’s neck, breathing in his cologne and weed scent.

He felt Eddie shakily breathe him in too, his nose resting in his hair by his temple.

“Smells good.”

Steve smiled against his skin.

“Took a shower when I got home from work. The shampoo is tropical breeze I think.”

Eddie didn’t answer, just took another breath, though this was stronger, more sure.

They stayed like that for a while, Steve slowly tracing fingers along Eddie’s chest and neck, letting him know he was physically here for whatever he needed.

Eventually, Eddie nudged Steve gently, making him remove his head from his body and pull away. He looked at Eddie, really looked at him, and saw some of the sunshine he was used to coming back behind his eyes.

“There you are.”

“Here I am.”

Steve cupped his cheek and leaned in to place a soft kiss on his lips, not wanting to make it anything more than a comforting peck.

Eddie let him, but his grip on Steve’s waist tightened momentarily like he was fighting the urge to kiss harder, longer, more.

“Sorry, sweetheart. I told Chrissy not to call. I didn’t even know she knew Robin.”

Eddie looked so apologetic, but he had nothing to apologize for. If his drop was anything like Steve’s, he had no control over what happened and Steve didn’t want him to feel like that all night.

“What happened, Eds? Was it just me not texting?”

Eddie looked nervous.

Oh no. This is it, he’s gonna break it off before it even gets started.

“That played a part in it, and not answering the call. But it was also just pushing myself at work more than I usually do in a day after what we did last night. After everything since Saturday, really. And then when the realization hit that I didn’t talk to you about the rule this morning, I felt like a bad dom. Just a mix of things.”

Steve let that sink in. That while it wasn’t all his fault, he was what started the negativity.

He’d been used to doing that for most of his life, bringing people down with him instead of leaving them be. He didn’t want that for Eddie. Eddie would be smart to end things with him.

But that’s not where this was going, Steve could tell from his next words.

“We have something I’ve never had before. I’m not used to such intense feelings over such a small scene or for anyone at all.” Eddie cupped Steve’s face between his hands, placing a kiss to his forehead before continuing. “What we’re doing here is more than anything I’ve done before and I think we haven’t had enough communication about what we’re doing. Can we talk about that?”

Steve nodded, mesmerized by the way Eddie bounced back so quickly, by the way he was looking at Steve like he loved him. He couldn’t possibly, but it seemed like he did.

“I know this is fast and unconventional. This isn’t how I usually do things and I don’t think it’s how you do things either. But maybe that’s a good thing. I’ve never wanted someone the way I want you. All the time. In every way.” Eddie had tears in his eyes. “It’s fucking terrifying. Especially after today and knowing that such a small thing made me drop. I’ve only dropped a couple of times and those were because of really intense scenes that I wasn’t properly prepared for. But I guess I’m never really prepared for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Every time I think I can handle my feelings for you, you do or say something that has me falling head over heels and I don’t know what to do about it, sunshine.”

Steve could feel the heat rising on his face, the blush on his cheeks deepening to an almost painful level. Eddie really cared for him.

“What do we do to stop you from dropping?”

“First, we have to set clear rules and boundaries for each scene and for our relationship.”

“Relationship?”

Eddie smirked.

“I just confessed that I have intense feelings for you, did you think I wasn’t wanting to make you mine?”

If Steve could breathe, he’s sure he would choke on the air.

“You want me to be yours?”

“I’d love for you to be mine and for me to be yours.”

“We haven’t even had a date yet.”

“Is that necessary when I’ve pressed a needle into your skin to make something permanent?”

“I guess not. But what if you don’t like me outside of…this?”

“That’s not possible, sunshine.”

“Not many people like me.”

“Not many people like me either.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

Eddie was a ball of sunshine, how could anyone not be in love with him when they talked to him?

“Well, I only have a couple good friends, Chrissy being one of them. My clients come to me because I’m good at what I do, but not because of anything else. I was the opposite of popular in school. My best friend until I was like, 13, was my Uncle Wayne.”

“But you’re so…nice.”

Eddie laughed. “Nice isn’t everything.”

“It is to me.”

Eddie poked at Steve’s bottom lip, which had somehow jutted out a bit during their talk.

“No need to be upset, sunshine. I’m doing just fine with what I’ve got, okay? Even better now that you’re around.”

“But I’m…me.”

“And you’re perfect to me.”

Steve’s brows furrowed, but Eddie traced along the line between them until it smoothed out.

“I feel the same about you, you know. Like you’re my sun, stars, my entire galaxy, and it doesn’t make any fucking sense because I didn’t even feel this way about the person I thought I wanted to marry! You hear how ridiculous that sounds? It’s been three days!”

Eddie pulled him in for another soft kiss, effectively calming him down again.

“I’m just worried that I’m so invested in whatever this is that I’m not seeing how badly it can end. I don’t want it to end. I want to be yours and I want you to be mine and I want to feel like this with you forever.”

“Then let’s do that.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Why not?”

“Because everything good ends! People don’t like me when I’m grumpy, which is always, and they leave! I couldn’t even convince Nancy to stay and she’s like me.”

Eddie looked like Steve had just punched him in the gut, his eyes wider and sadder than ever.

“Sweetheart, sometimes people just aren’t right for each other. But this feels right. You feel right.”

Steve let out a sob at his words. He’d been holding back for a while, and the concern that had built up from the moment Robin told him what was going on seemed to crash down on him.

Eddie was here, telling him how much he cared, telling him that he wants more. That he wants Steve. As he is.

No one had ever wanted Steve for him.

But Eddie didn’t know enough about his history of parents with more money than they knew what to do with, or his friends who pressured him into drinking every weekend until he couldn’t even recognize them, or the times he turned to getting high on whatever Tommy was on during high school just to feel something other than loneliness. He didn’t know that the times between Tommy and Robin, he tried to hide away from everyone, didn’t even bother leaving his apartment other than to go to classes he was almost failing for a solid year. He didn’t know that Steve nearly lost his chance at getting his degree when Nancy broke his heart because he couldn’t leave his bed.

He doesn’t know that Robin is pretty much the only reason he’s even here.

But he wants him. He may not when he knows all of that, but for now, he wants him. Still, he had to ask to be sure, to know he wasn’t just getting his hopes up for nothing.

“You want me?”

“I want you more than anything.”

“Then you have me.”

The way Eddie kissed him shattered his world and put it back together, leaving no question that he’d meant the words he said.

Hands were everywhere, soft until they weren’t, leaving bruises as remnants of their emotions.

Both of them gasped for air. Both of them dove right back in like they couldn’t bear to separate their lips for more than a few seconds.

If this was what it was like being Eddie’s, Steve never wanted to belong to anyone else.

Chapter 8

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[kennys-parka-jacket]

All these pictures behind Princess Kenny's throne in Snow Day were likely painted by her.

For decades fans have headcanoned that Kenny does grafitti on the outsides of buildings.

Now, after almost 30 years, it finally became canon

[nonokoko-draws]

Do you guys see my vision

[oregaymi]

boutta get tatted and I'm nervous